The Guide Always Wants to Run (GL) - Chapter 25

Qin Xiao was startled. She quickly threw back the blanket and found a round lump about the size of a palm on the bed. It looked like a ball. She reached out and poked it. Her finger sank into the soft surface.

“Squeak~”

She poked it again with two fingers. The indentation grew deeper.

“Squeak~ Squeak~”

She smacked it with her palm, expecting to see a flattened pancake. Instead, she hit empty air and slapped straight onto the mattress.

A sharp series of “Squeak squeak squeak” followed, and the little round lump vanished.

“You must be kidding me.”

Qin Xiao could now distinguish between a Guide’s and a Sentinel’s Quantum beasts. The large, fierce little animals belonged exclusively to Sentinels. The small, cute, harmless ones were a Guide’s. So far, she had only seen one Guide’s Quantum beast which was a docile little white rabbit.

Yan Ningjin sensed a burst of mental fluctuation and rushed upstairs. She saw Qin Xiao sitting on the bed, her eyes blank, clearly in shock. Reaching out, she touched Qin Xiao’s forehead. “Your fever is gone.”

Tuan Tuan sniffed all around, then nudged Yan Ningjin aside and rested his massive head on Qin Xiao’s palm. He purred in delight, like he had found something important, and eagerly rubbed against Qin Xiao’s palm, tail wagging with excitement.

Still caught in the despair of discovering her Quantum beast was a squishy ball, Qin Xiao felt even more crushed at the sight of Tuan Tuan. She wasn’t asking for a powerful creature, but at the very least, it shouldn’t be something anyone could squish into any shape they wanted!

Yan Ningjin sensed through their post-mark connection that Qin Xiao was extremely downcast. Unsure how to comfort her, she clumsily changed the topic. “Your fever is gone. Rest a few more days and you’ll be completely recovered.”

Qin Xiao was annoyed, but she did feel much better. Especially earlier, when she had heard Yan Ningjin talking to someone. “Your mania hasn’t fully cleared. Let the Guide doctor who treated me come over. I want to help you resolve it quickly.”

She wanted all problems settled before she asked Yan Ningjin for her compensation.

Though she had been in a haze these past few days, she had heard much of what was said around her, including what that Doctor Aili had said. Qin Xiao was someone who returned respect with respect, and besides, Yan Ningjin had saved her multiple times.

Doctor Aili arrived very quickly. She gave Qin Xiao the same kind of warm feeling as Eva had which was a maternal presence that made her feel comfortable. “Congratulations on successfully passing your Guide awakening.”

Qin Xiao, who had always believed she was a Sentinel, had been utterly beaten down by reality. She forced herself to stay focused and went straight to the point. “Yan Yan said Guides can soothe Sentinels and help them through mania but I don’t know how to do that.”

Doctor Aili smiled kindly. “Qin Xiao, during your awakening, did you hear a lot of noise coming from all directions? Can you still hear it now?”

The day she went to West Street, that very noise had given her a headache. If she had known then that this was a sign of Guide awakening, she wouldn’t have recklessly gone to the party. She would have found a way to safely ride it out.

But there’s no use regretting now.

She shook her head. “I can hear it when I want to, and I can block it out when I don’t.”

Doctor Aili’s eyes widened in amazement. “Oh my. The General didn’t lie. You really are gifted. You’ve already learned how to control your five senses? That’s a mid-level course at the Guide Academy.”

The mention of “Guide Academy” made Qin Xiao frown. As a cultivator, she already knew how to enhance her senses and control her mind. This was child’s play to her. More importantly, the noise was unbearable. It made her so uncomfortable that when her condition worsened, the intrusive voices seemed to claw into her mind. In a fit of rage, she had shut them all out.

Doctor Aili then used several terms Qin Xiao didn’t quite understand to teach her how to extend her mental tendrils into a Sentinel’s cloud of consciousness. If she could extinguish the glowing specks of fire inside, she could soothe the Sentinel.

Qin Xiao quickly grasped the concept but understanding the theory was one thing; it still had to be tested.

The best candidate was obviously Yan Ningjin.

Doctor Aili hesitated. The person before her was a General of the Xiao Corps. If something went wrong during treatment, the consequences would be too much to bear.

Yan Ningjin, however, had no such worries. She had full faith in her little Guide. “Xiao Xiao, I’m ready.”

Doctor Aili couldn’t help but try one more time. “General, please reconsider. Qin Xiao isn’t ready to clear your mania. Perhaps we should leave this decision to General Aige?”

Qin Xiao looked at Yan Ningjin, confused. Shouldn’t this be the Guide’s decision?

Yan Ningjin stood firm. “Doctor Aili, how about this? After Xiao Xiao completes the clearance, I’ll report personally to General Aige. She is my Guide now. I trust her.”

Qin Xiao glanced at her in surprise. That word trust unexpectedly lifted her spirits. Why am I so happy about this? Maybe because after being marked, Guides developed a natural sense of submission to their Sentinels. But it was fine because the temporary marking would fade in time. She comforted herself with that thought.

Doctor Aili had nothing more to say. She knew just how strong a Guide’s influence could be over a Sentinel. “Since you insist, General, please allow me to assist from the side.”

Yan Ningjin looked at Qin Xiao. The latter didn’t mind.

Qin Xiao may have been a rookie, but she would never gamble with Yan Ningjin’s life. She owed her far too many energy crystals. She whispered, “Don’t worry. I’ll be very careful.”

She had often melded spirits with Ah Qin, so she was quite familiar with this kind of interaction. The cloud of consciousness and the Guide’s mental tendrils entwining with the Sentinel’s was essentially a form of dual cultivation that only occurred after full marking.

For now, during treatment, it was a one-sided process. Qin Xiao would control her drifting mental tendrils and gently make contact with Yan Ningjin’s consciousness. If the other person did not trust her or rejected her, the result could be devastating. Minor cases resulted in dullness. Severe cases led to death, because the cloud of consciousness resided in the brain.

But to her surprise, Yan Ningjin truly did trust her. The moment she reached out, the cloud of consciousness opened to her, as if welcoming her.

For a split second, Qin Xiao felt like she had just taken advantage of Yan Ningjin. This kind of connection was euphoric and more intoxicating than physical pleasure.

Qin Xiao gripped Yan Ningjin’s hand and carefully extended her mental tendrils, testing each one as it reached into the cloud of consciousness. She could clearly see the fiery red specks invading it. These must be the mania agents, and there were so many of them!

Seeing that Yan Ningjin was unaffected, she went deeper and began by clearing the outermost layer. Her mental tendrils brushed the fiery specks, and they vanished with a soft pop. It was a massive task. Qin Xiao had only just recovered, and after clearing a portion, she was already drained and pulled back.

Doctor Aili had been nervously watching. The moment the two separated, she rushed forward. “How did it go?”

Yan Ningjin felt entirely relaxed, more at ease than she ever had before. She opened her eyes to see her little Guide’s exhausted face, her delicate brows drawn tight with fatigue. Gently, she helped her lie down. “Xiao Xiao, thank you. Rest now.”

Qin Xiao had just emerged from her Guide awakening and was completely drained. Her mind felt hollow, utterly spent. She closed her eyes and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Yan Ningjin tucked her in, adjusted the room’s temperature to the optimal level, and gently kissed her brow. It was so soft, like a feather brushing past, leaving no trace behind.

Doctor Aili stood frozen. A newly awakened Guide had just cleared mania. This had never happened in her entire medical career. She stared in awe, completely ignoring how possessive Sentinels could be.

Yan Ningjin noticed Doctor Aili staring too intently at her little Guide and frowned. “Doctor Aili, Xiao Xiao needs rest. If you have something to say, let’s talk outside.”

That was a polite way of asking her to leave.

Doctor Aili was stunned. Yan Ningjin’s ruby-like eyes, hardened by mania, were now shedding their cursed shell. The red mist was fading, revealing the deep obsidian underneath. Though the glowing sparks still lingered, Qin Xiao’s bold attempt had already cleared a significant portion of the mania.

This was a promising sign!

She had to secure this exceptionally gifted Guide.

As Yan Ningjin left, she used her mental command to order Tuan Tuan to go too, leaving her Guide a quiet space to rest.

Tuan Tuan cast her a reproachful look, took a few steps, then slumped on the staircase, unwilling to go further. He lazily sprawled out, glancing about with feigned innocence, deliberately avoiding Yan Ningjin’s frustrated gaze.

“General.”

“Doctor Aili, is there something else?”

Doctor Aili, well-versed in military communication, knew that being direct was best. Flowery words only led to misunderstandings with those used to giving orders. “I would like to accept Qin Xiao as a student of the Medical Academy, so she can help more Sentinels overcome their mania.”

Yan Ningjin hadn’t expected this. “I cannot agree to that for now.”

Doctor Aili had anticipated rejection. A gifted individual had every right to refuse. But she had also prepared herself to try again and again. “General, please consider it. Qin Xiao has never attended the Guide Academy.”

The implication was clear that Qin Xiao was a wild Guide, and still wanted.

Yan Ningjin wasn’t deaf to the subtext, but her main concern was Qin Xiao’s opinion. “Doctor Aili, you’re asking the wrong person. If Xiao Xiao agrees, I won’t object.”

…

After everyone left the room, only the sleeping Qin Xiao remained. A smooth, round little creature appeared beneath her palm, in the exact same place as before. It used all its strength, like a newborn trying to lift a heavy blanket, to push up her warm palm. Then it bounced a few times, trying hard to maintain its tumbler-like pose. But it was still too round. It wobbled left, then right, then slipped with a soft plop and rolled right off the bed.

“Squeak—”

Tuan Tuan, who had been lying on the floor in boredom, twitched his furry ears and immediately sprang to his feet. He stood upright on his hind legs and pawed at the door until it opened with a click.

After seeing Doctor Aili off, Yan Ningjin rushed upstairs the moment she heard a sound. She found Tuan Tuan conducting a detailed search, sniffing every inch from the door to the bedside. His head was lowered, his nose pressed to the ground, sniffing intensely.

Tuan Tuan let out a frustrated growl and began a second search. He crouched down exactly where the little ball had fallen and started sniffing again, even scraping at the floor with his claws. But no matter what he did, he couldn’t find a trace of it.

Yan Ningjin felt a throb at her temples as she watched his hopeless expression. “Tuan Tuan, you need to give it some time. It’s too shy and embarrassed to come out and see you.”

Tuan Tuan let out a woeful howl and slumped to the floor, groaning in protest.

Yan Ningjin could only shake her head. After all, her Tuan Tuan had been single for over a decade. It was understandable that he now craved companionship. “Maybe you’re just too big and you scared it.”

Tuan Tuan shot her a sideways glance with his amber eyes, then shifted his position and turned his back toward her.

Yan Ningjin sighed and decided to get back to her official duties.

During this time, General Aige and her wife came to visit. Her wife, Mara, was a pastry chef who loved making sweets. She brought along a tray full of desserts.

“Mama Mara, thank you for making all these treats. Xiao Xiao hasn’t had much of an appetite lately, but I think she’ll really enjoy these.”

“Aige, look at this. Ever since Ningjin found a Guide, she’s been so much softer.”

Aige patted her wife’s hand. “Stop teasing her. You know what she’s always been like. From childhood, she was a drawn bowstring, always tense. Now she’s finally found her chord.”

Yan Ningjin remained expressionless, but the tips of her ears had turned noticeably red.

Mara looked around the room. “I heard from Doctor Aili that your little Guide has passed her awakening. Is she feeling better now?”

Whenever she heard someone refer to Qin Xiao as her little Guide, Yan Ningjin felt deeply content. But she still corrected Mara politely. “Mama Mara, her name is Qin Xiao.”

“Qin Xiao, such a lovely name. It sounds like harmony between zither and flute. May I go upstairs to see her?”

General Aige gave Yan Ningjin a small nod.

Yan Ningjin hesitated slightly. “Xiao Xiao helped cleanse my mania agents and is still a bit exhausted.”

Mara eagerly went upstairs, only to be stopped by Tuan Tuan, who stood guard at the stairway. He growled lowly and assumed an attacking stance. “Goodness, Ningjin, your Tuan Tuan seems unwilling to let me pass.”

Yan Ningjin had to communicate with him mentally. Tuan Tuan, although still grumpy, backed off reluctantly and trailed behind Mara like a mobile surveillance drone. Quantum beasts belonging to Sentinels were naturally aggressive. For Mara, a Guide, her presence was unnerving.

Aige watched and joked, “Ningjin, you’re being too tense. Mara just wants to see your little Guide. She’s not going to do anything to her.”

Yan Ningjin couldn’t explain it. Ever since their temporary marking, Tuan Tuan had been extremely sensitive about Qin Xiao’s presence. Part of it was the effect of the temporary bond. Sentinels were instinctively possessive of their Guides. But Tuan Tuan’s behavior had gone beyond normal. Since she couldn’t find a reason, she simply accepted her own obsession with her Guide. “Mama Aige, did you come here today for something important?”

General Aige was a striking woman whose mere presence brought a natural sense of pressure. It was more than just a Sentinel’s aura because it carried the commanding presence of a seasoned general. She gestured for Yan Ningjin to sit with her. “Capital Star has issued a new order. Ningjin, what you’ve done this time was truly unexpected.”

Taking a Guide and fleeing with her… this wasn’t something the old Yan Ningjin would have done.

“But damn it, it was satisfying. As someone from the Second Corps, that’s exactly how it should be. A Sentinel without a Guide is just a lonely commander. When mania strikes, they might not even survive, let alone talk about serving the Empire.”

Yan Ningjin: ….

Aige laughed, seeing her blank expression. “The Guide Academy has existed for over eighty years. The Empire has poured endless resources into cultivating Guides. Yet in recent years, most of our high-ranking officers either die from mania or lose their minds due to pheromonal instability, only to be disposed of. Less than five percent actually receive proper guidance from Guides. And even then, one percent of those relapse into mania after the death of their Guides. Ningjin, as a General of the Xiao Corps, can you really not see the problem?”

Words like these would be considered treason if they reached the Emperor’s ears.

But Yan Ningjin understood. This was the Empire’s core flaw. The noble families lived in luxury, indulging themselves. Meanwhile, the soldiers on the front lines endured injustice. Many civilian Sentinels simply wanted to protect the Empire, hoping that one day they would be paired with a Guide whose mental strength matched their own. But that was nearly impossible.

“Mama Aige, what order did Capital Star issue?”

“The royal family has ordered you to bring your Guide back to Capital Star. They want to hear your response to Madam Qin’s accusation that you abducted a Guide or any explanation you might have.”

Yan Ningjin nodded calmly.

General Aige looked her in the eye. Her thin lips pressed into a tight line. “What are your thoughts?”

Yan Ningjin paused, then answered honestly. “His Majesty wouldn’t trouble me over a single Guide. Especially since the Headmistress of the Guide Academy has always been diligent in finding me a match. At the banquet, she even tried to convince me to accept a slightly lower compatibility Guide to resolve the issue and stop His Majesty from nagging her.”

“That was because I pressured her. You are, after all, my most prized student,” Aige said casually. The black-and-white tiger lying at her feet suddenly stood and paced restlessly around her.

“Thank you, Mama Aige. The reason I brought her to Sunstar was so she could meet you and Mama Mara.”

“Are you sure?”

The question held layered meaning, but Yan Ningjin nodded with certainty. “Yes, I’m sure.”

While tension stirred downstairs, the upstairs atmosphere was peaceful. Or it would have been, if not for Tuan Tuan’s interference.

Mara’s Quantum beast was a snow-white ermine, which wrapped its tail around her neck and trembled. Its dazzling eyes, much like its owner’s, scanned the small Guide in bed with a watchful gaze.

The moment Qin Xiao saw the ermine, she could not help but want to reach for it. As if sensing her intent, Mara placed the trembling creature on her bed. But the second she did, Tuan Tuan sprang up.

Before Qin Xiao could touch the ermine’s smooth fur, a white blur zipped past her eyes. In its place was a golden-furred mass. Tuan Tuan flopped beside her and even nudged her outstretched hand with his massive head, clearly saying, “You can pet me instead.”

Mara hugged her ermine tightly and laughed helplessly. “Now I believe what Doctor Aili said. Ningjin really likes you.”

Qin Xiao forced a smile. She had no idea if Yan Ningjin actually liked her. Still, seeing Tuan Tuan like this, she took out her frustration by rubbing his big head. The more she touched, the better it felt. Inwardly, she lamented, Why isn’t my Quantum beast this fluffy?

“And you are…?”

Mara sat on a chair positioned well away from Tuan Tuan. “I’m Ningjin’s mother. You can call me Mara. I brought you some desserts. I hope you like them.”

Qin Xiao had only accepted the temporary mark because she wanted to survive. So she couldn’t bring herself to call this woman mother. She glanced at the desserts and took a small bite before smartly changing the subject. “Mara, I don’t know much about being a Guide. Could you tell me more?”

After being blindsided once by going into heat, Qin Xiao wasn’t going to let it happen again. She asked a lot about Guide-related topics, including the mark, temporary marks and permanent ones, heat cycles, and awakening.

When a Guide awakened, they experienced fever, weakness, and extreme sensory overload, often leading to mental confusion. It was a vulnerable time and required care. During this stage, a Guide’s body emitted pheromones. When these met a compatible Sentinel, the scent would become sweet and could trigger mania. It would even drive Sentinels to pursue the Guide relentlessly.

The Guide Academy’s usual protocol was to place the Guide in a secluded environment. Only after the fever subsided and the senses stabilized would they be taught preventative measures. These included the use of suppressants.

“Suppressants?”

“Suppressants can temporarily help a Guide going through awakening or heat stay stable. But once the effect wears off, the next heat will come stronger and more intense. The suppressants may not work at all then.”

Qin Xiao licked her lips. She remembered hearing that suppressants were being sold in West Street.

Mara continued. “If you want to resolve these issues completely, you can marry Ningjin and become legal partners. Once a Guide is permanently marked, the residual pheromones will be masked perfectly. Unless a Sentinel stronger than Ningjin appears, no one else will dare approach you.”

That really was the perfect solution. It would resolve everything in one go.

Qin Xiao couldn’t help asking, “After permanent marking, the heat cycle would…?”

Mara looked at her warmly. “Normally, a Guide goes into heat every three months after awakening. But once permanently marked by a Sentinel, it becomes every six months. However, you must know that perfectly matched pairs only need a little spark to trigger bonding heat.”

This meant that fully compatible Sentinels and Guides could go into heat at any time, anywhere, simply by wanting it.

Qin Xiao’s eyes sparkled. She looked thrilled, not like someone trying to avoid going into heat.

Mara stifled a laugh, deeply comforted. She silently thought, This child must really like Ningjin.

But in reality, Qin Xiao’s mind was filled with thoughts like, I have to find my cauldron. Then I can shamelessly return to the life I used to live. The only downside was that dual cultivation no longer improved her strength.

Yan Ningjin sensed her little Guide was extremely happy. As for why, she assumed it must be because Xiao Xiao really liked Mama Mara (which was… not quite the case).

…

It took Qin Xiao several days to completely purge the mania agents from Yan Ningjin’s consciousness cloud. To say it was clean simply meant Qin Xiao could no longer detect or touch the fiery red traces with her mental tendrils. How strange. Could mania agents regenerate endlessly?

Yan Ningjin’s eyes had regained their clarity. Seeing Qin Xiao looking confused, she reached out and lightly touched the young Guide’s pale cheek. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

That was a promise a Sentinel made to their Guide.

Qin Xiao shifted her gaze and calmly extended her hand. “You promised me something before. Are you going to give it to me now?”

“Hm?” Yan Ningjin replied.

Qin Xiao’s wide almond eyes glared at her. She pursed her lips and stared for a long time. When Yan Ningjin remained silent, she huffed indignantly. “Don’t play dumb. I risked my life to stall for thirty minutes. I nearly died, you know. That was a bad deal.”

Thirty minutes?

Nearly died?

A flash of memory surged through Yan Ningjin’s mind, dragging her back to that night over two weeks ago when she crash-landed on the desolate planet. She had encountered a strange little beast and promised to give it many energy crystals in return.

Recalling the things Qin Xiao had said at the banquet, a faint crack finally appeared in her always composed expression.

Qin Xiao pouted. Seeing Yan Ningjin still refusing to acknowledge it, she grew irritated. “That’s a separate issue. We may have established a temporary mark, but if you dare break your promise, I’ll get angry. I’ll even turn hostile.”

Yan Ningjin glanced at the motionless Tuan Tuan lying on the bed. Tuan Tuan gave her an innocent look. After a long silence, Yan Ningjin finally found her voice. “You are… that little beast?”

Qin Xiao’s face puffed up with anger. She stood on the bed and yelled from above. “Don’t call me a little beast! My name is Qin Xiao. Qin like the brightness of the moon, Xiao like freedom and elegance. If you say those two words again, I’ll hit you.”

The look of rage on her face resembled the snarling expression of that little beast from before. But she looked much better now. Yan Ningjin even found her Guide quite adorable. “How did you become human?”

And somehow became her Guide too.

“Don’t change the subject. I’m asking if you’ll keep your promise.” Qin Xiao did not know what kind of toxin Aya had been poisoned with. The poison damaged neurons, and although she had been receiving treatment for years, there had been no sign of improvement.

Whoever poisoned Aya clearly intended to kill her.

Yan Ningjin reached out and pulled her to sit beside her. “I’ll keep my word. But the crystals are on Capital Star. I thought you’d return with me, so I had them prepared in advance. I just didn’t expect you to—”

Qin Xiao’s eyes brightened with impatience. “Then let’s return to Capital Star now.”

Yan Ningjin saw her revived energy and smiled. “Of course, we’ll return. But before that, I need to tell you what we might face—”

“I’ll be sent to the Guide Academy?”

“Or you might have to stand trial?”

Before Yan Ningjin could finish, Qin Xiao blurted out everything she had eavesdropped on. “Why can’t a Guide have a life of their own? Why must we enter the Guide Academy?”

Yan Ningjin tried to calm her. “Guides rarely have freedom of choice unless they are doctors. Doctor Aili wanted you to enroll in the Medical Academy to become her assistant. Do you want to be a doctor?”

Qin Xiao twitched at the thought. Being an executioner sounded more appealing. “Aside from being a doctor… is there any other way?”

Yan Ningjin looked at her with a knowing smile. “You can marry me. If we become legal partners, no one will dare send you to the Academy. And if you’re worried about compatibility, there’s a one-to-two-year trial marriage clause.”

Qin Xiao wanted to curse. Her shoulders slumped. “So there’s no other way except marriage?”

Yan Ningjin could not tell her the truth. The Empire still had wild Guide networks, but for detected Guides, the only option was the Guide Academy, where they were subjected to brainwashing and genetic pairing. Once a good match was found, a meeting with a Sentinel would be arranged.

This trial marriage clause had emerged from the recent amendment to the Guide Protection Law. Forcing a Guide to marry someone they did not love often led to despair and death.

And when a Guide died, the life of their bonded Sentinel usually ended as well.

A one-to-two-year trial period was meant to allow Guides and Sentinels to develop feelings naturally, reducing tragic outcomes.

Seeing her reluctant face, Yan Ningjin felt slightly hurt. “You won’t even consider trying the trial marriage for a year or two?”

Qin Xiao wanted to run straight to Ah Qin. If that person was willing to marry her, then her dilemma would be resolved. But she knew it was not fair to dump all her mess onto Yan Ningjin.

Over the past few days, she had eavesdropped on a lot and realized the trouble Yan Ningjin faced for taking her away. It might even lead to punishment from the royal family.

If Ah Qin remembered her, perhaps she would agree. But Ah Qin seemed to be a royal now. Would she really accept her so easily?

Qin Xiao did not dare to gamble her freedom. She was weak and easily triggered into bonding heat when near a highly compatible Sentinel.

This cursed body.

“It’s not that. I just haven’t decided yet,” she murmured.

“Then let’s return to Capital Star. You can think about it on the way.” Yan Ningjin did not want to use submission tactics on her Guide. She knew it would work, but what was the point of forcing affection?

Qin Xiao felt trapped. If she married Yan Ningjin and Ah Qin remembered later, she might regret it. After all, Ah Qin had a temper and could get upset without warning.

But going to Ah Qin now would be pointless. She would not remember right away.

All of this was the result of her regressed cultivation. Without bl00d techniques, she had caused too much trouble.

Qin Xiao asked weakly, “Once we return to Capital Star, will you give me all the energy crystals you promised?”

Yan Ningjin recalled the scene where her little Guide had shattered an energy box with one swipe and nodded. Then, as if casually, she added, “Don’t worry. I also have an untouched planet rich in energy. It probably contains many crystals, so you won’t be short of them.”

Qin Xiao: !!!

A whole planet of energy crystals? That was unimaginable.

Qin Xiao’s eyes sparkled. She wanted to rush to that planet and start collecting right away. She stomped her foot in frustration. If only I had been more specific earlier. Back then, all I could do was howl. I didn’t even know how many crystals she had in mind.

Yan Ningjin turned her back, her lips slightly curved. Meanwhile, Tuan Tuan tugged at her pant leg and growled lowly. She coughed lightly. “By the way, Tuan Tuan wants to know what your Quantum beast is. He’s been searching for days but couldn’t find it. Could you let the little one come out and play with him?”

Based on the timing, Qin Xiao’s Quantum beast must have appeared during her awakening. Yan Ningjin vaguely recalled hearing a squeak like a mouse, but Tuan Tuan had been faster and still could not find it. He had been sulking for days.

Qin Xiao’s face darkened. She stared at Yan Ningjin and the creature wriggling adorably on the floor. Her own Quantum beast was like a lump of dough, round and soft. Even a rabbit would be better.

Next time she had to fight, she might as well just slap the enemy with her dough.

Qin Xiao was about to decline when a green lump suddenly splatted onto her face, accompanied by its signature sound—

“Squeak squeak squeak squeak!”

Yan Ningjin: !!!

Tuan Tuan’s eyes widened. The amber irises crossed as he stared dumbly at the round green creature, unsure whether to be shocked or overjoyed.

Qin Xiao was furious. She reached out to grab the little troublemaker, but it vanished.

Tuan Tuan gave a joyful howl and lunged toward her, licking the spot where the round thing had just been.

Qin Xiao quickly pushed him away, but he was like a dog on stimulants. He pounced repeatedly, tail wagging excitedly. He no longer looked like a noble lion-tiger beast. He was more like a loyal puppy.

“Can’t you do something about him? He’s drooling all over me!”

Yan Ningjin mentally soothed Tuan Tuan, who then sat obediently beside Qin Xiao with his eyes blinking expectantly.

Yan Ningjin hesitated. “Was that your Quantum beast just now? What is it?”

Qin Xiao looked helpless. She had no idea. Other people had actual animals such as rabbits, lion-tigers, leopards, and eagles. Those were proper beasts.

Hers was a dough ball. Something edible.

Right on cue, the purple dough ball smacked her in the face again with a loud squeak—

“Squeak!”